The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced the completion of a major review of historical Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decisions, following a Supreme Court judgment that changed how certain claims are assessed. The review has resulted in back payments totalling £270 million for around 48,000 claimants, with an average payment of approximately £5,625 per person.
In a written statement to Parliament, Social Security and Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms confirmed that the DWP reviewed 350,000 cases and made 48,000 arrears payments. However, around 2,400 additional claimants have been identified as due back payments but have not yet received them because the department has been unable to trace them.
The review was prompted by the MM Supreme Court judgment in July 2019, which changed how 'social support' should be considered when assessing a claimant's ability to engage with others face to face. This affected Daily Living Activity 9 of the PIP assessment, and the DWP updated its guidance for new claims from September 2020.
Sir Stephen emphasised that no claimant should have lost money as a result of the review, stating: 'All reviews have been carried out by a case manager within the Department and no one should have seen their PIP reduced because of these exercises.' Claimants who believe they may have been affected can still request a review by contacting the DWP.
PIP supports more than 3.9 million people in England and Wales with extra costs from long-term health conditions or disabilities. In Scotland, it has been replaced by Adult Disability Payment, but those affected by the ruling may still be entitled to back payments.
